Tag Archives: Sephora

Here we are a week before Labor Day and the melancholy of summer’s end is setting in. I plan on getting in at least one more beach day and BBQ before we say goodbye to summer 2012. With that, fall fragrance releases are here. Continue reading →

A few months back, Birchbox Man reached out and expressed interest in having me talk about fragrances on their recently launched site. Naturally I was excited by the opportunity and then life stepped in. With the perfect storm brewing, every possible obstacle got in the way of making this a reality. Fortunately they didn’t lose interest and it’s now live.

This particular posting really touched me. My brother, who is no longer alive, is mentioned in this piece. It almost brought me to tears when I read those few line because it instantly took me back to my childhood. Then I realized, it’s a form of thanks to him for recognizing how in tuned I am with my sense of smell. Anyhow, here’s my interview…it’s a good (quick) read.

My favorite cigar spot here in NYC is OK Cigars. The energy there is unlike any cigar shop I’ve ever been to. All of the fellas have their own style, we discuss everything from politics to women and the best part, there is no pretentiousness.

On this particular day, I was sitting outside enjoying a smoke when Voon Chew passed by. I immediately liked his ensemble. I noticed his perfectly weathered Bucks because I was considering getting a pair this summer but chickened out. Next thing you know, he disappeared into the crowd on West Broadway only to reappear asking to take the picture of my smoking buddy Dexter Wimberly and myself. I was flattered because I left the house that day feel eh. We’re now experiencing that in between weather, which always poses a problem wardrobe wise, and my only pair of jeans had me feeling like a sausage after a recent wash. That said I had to pull something together that I wasn’t too happy about.

Mr. Chew pulls out his iPhone to grab a quick snapshot but he just wasn’t getting the shot he wanted. I happened to be walking with my Canon Rebel XTI to grab a snap of a gent to profile here and decided to offer it to him. An impromptu photo shoot ensued and after 15 minutes of shooting I decided to turn the camera on him as I was certain a man with this taste surely appreciated fragrances.

What are your feelings about fragrance?
Fragrance is as much a crucial element as any accessory or clothing item in personalizing your appearance and style. It is quite complex, like trying to pair a good wine with a dish that complements not contradicts. So much love and experimenting is poured into the creating of a fragrance – what makes for the most intoxicating combination? And then you still have to throw you own body chemistry into the mix to see if it makes for a good marriage. I’ve learned that just because a cologne is lovely on its own doesn’t mean it is the right one for you.

What’s your earliest recollection of fragrance?
When I was a kid my mum would take me to the Buddhist temples and they would be burning incense. The scent permeated through the entire place and the smoke created this fog of calmness. It was so intense that it was hard not to remember that. And of course like any kid, I used to open up my mum’s perfume bottles sitting on the vanity table to sniff them.

What fragrances are currently in your rotation?
Gucci Pour Homme II, YSL L’Homme and Clinique Happy.

How often do you go out looking for something new?
Once in a while I would walk into Sephora, as I love the setup there. And it is not as overwhelming as walking into the fragrance section of a departmental store where wafts of different perfumes take over, and make you want to get away from that as soon as possible.

What specifically do you look for?
I love ingredients like cedar, cardamom, bergamot that evoke a little bit of muskiness and some citrus to keep it fresh and vibrant. Recently I was intrigued by Gucci Flora for women. It contains mandarin and peony, which are very Asian-inspired and grounded by sandalwood. I always recommend that to my lady friends.

Would you ever consider wearing it?
I tested it on my skin to see how it would react with my body chemistry and even though it has a tinge of unisex appeal, its floral notes monopolized the scent to me, especially the rose which is very distinctive. However, I have to applaud Gucci for coming up with such a lovely flowery fragrance without evoking overly powdery undertones or god forbid a packet of English Garden potpourri!

Have you ever purchased the same fragrance more than once? If so, what was it and what about it made it worthy of a repeat buy?
Gucci Pour Homme II. It has been very well received. When people want to get up close to sniff your neck, even casual acquaintances, you know you have a winner on your hands.

How would you finish this statement? “My most memorable fragrant moment would be…?
My most memorable fragrant moment would be when I met this person in Chicago whom I swear oozes natural pheromones that should have been bottled as a fragrance. This is very reminiscent of a scene in the movie Michael (where John Travolta’s character makes all the women swoon as he smelled like cookies). This person did not smell like cookies of course. That was the one and only time I met someone who actually smelled heavenly au naturale.

About a week or so ago, I had some free time and went into Sephora to kill it. As I was going down the men’s isle, I noticed a gentlemen sampling the offering but he seemed strange. It was close to closing and the store was fairly empty. One of the sales associates was close by but kept her distance. He sprayed a few scent stripes but didn’t move along which I found odd. We typically spray, smell, contemplate, and move onto the next scent. This guy just stayed in the same place. The “I get it” moment came when the sales associate disappeared. As soon as she was out of sight, I saw him spraying cologne all over himself, I mean all over. Naturally I found this odd but I understood it. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t understand the overspraying; that is never acceptable. However, what I can appreciate is the shyness we suffer from when it comes to sampling. I decided to take this up with Fashion and Grooming Editor of Men’s Health, Mr. Brian Boye, whom I managed to pin down for a quick interview.

What do you feel is at the root of the issue of men sampling?

In my experience, men approach fragrance — and grooming in general — in a very different way than women. Shopping for these things is an ‘event’ for most women; something they’ll do with friends on a Saturday afternoon. For guys it’s a chore, and something they’d rather do on their own, as quickly as possible. Most guys I know like to wear cologne, but don’t necessarily relish the idea of spending an afternoon at the store testing them. One of the reasons every major fragrance brand use Men’s Health to introduce new products is that guys are much more likely to use scent strips as a way to shop in private. The thought of conversing with a spritzer at the beauty counter is about as appealing as going in for a back wax.

We feel this pressure to make a quick decision on something that takes a bit of time. It’s like enjoying a fine wine. You can’t do it quickly. At the beauty counter, you can feel like a sitting duck. You need to spend a moment taking in the smell, the aura before you can really appreciate the nuances of what you’re testing. To share that moment with a stranger who wants to sell you something can be off-putting.

What’s the solution?

If this sounds like you, my advice is to go with a friend or girlfriend who can provide a second opinion and serve as a buffer between you the spritzer. Otherwise, explain to the salesperson that you’d like to try a few things on your own and when you’re ready for more help, you’ll let them know.

Regardless of how you shop, the key is to finding the right scent is time. The top notes, which you’ll smell right away is not how the fragrance will actually wear. Spritz your hand or wrist then walk away for a few minutes. After the initial notes subside, you’ll discover the middle and bottom notes — a better indication of how the scent will smell on you over time. Then, you can make an informed decision.

I couldn’t have said it any better. Guys, you will study a gadget to the tenth degree before making a purchase. Do yourself a favor and apply the same thinking to your fragrance purchases. The way you smell leaves such an impression that it does warrant more attention. So the next time you’re on the hunt for a new scent, take control of the situation, don’t be that sitting duck.

I am having fun in Paris. There’s a saying, “when in Rome do as the Roman’s do,” and with that, I had to stop off at Sephora for France is where it began back in 1969. I was curious to see if they carried anything over here that couldn’t be found at home. For the most part, they had just about everything. Mathew McConaughey was being well promoted for his endorsement of Dolce & Gabana’s The One and the music pumped just as loud. What I was surprised to see was Serge Luten…that did bring a smile to my face. I am currently wearing Santal Blanc and am loving it.

As I perused the men’s section and was picked off by a sales attendant, he began telling me of a Givenchy promotion. Apparently for their 50th anniversary, they re-released their original men’s scents in France only. (Ok…now we’re getting somewhere.) On top of that, with the purchase of any Givenchy product, you could have your bottle engraved. As cheesy as that may sound, it was enough for me to jump. I picked Vetyver…masculine in its own right, its subtly sophisticated. I will admit, the promotion took it over the top. I engraved my bottle with none other than Fragrant Moments. I’m not sure if this will be making its way to the states, you know sales people will tell you just about anything to get you to make that purchase. However, a few of the original re-releases can be found online at Sephora.